Graham, Cabinet Extend Teacher-licensing Rules

September 6, 1985|By Maya Bell, Sentinel Tallahassee Bureau

TALLAHASSEE — In a move criticized by teacher unions as irresponsible, Gov. Bob Graham and the Cabinet Thursday agreed to continue using the current rules for licensing teachers when the state's certification law expires in October.

Education Commissioner Ralph Turlington made the motion to continue the existing rules but acknowledged the action may not survive legal challenge. He said the rules will be ''presumed valid until a judge rules otherwise.''

The action was considered necessary to ensure the state has licensing requirements for teachers. The Legislature passed a replacement law this year but Graham vetoed it. The governor said the new standards did not ensure teacher competency.

Union officials Thursday took another swipe at Graham for vetoing the bill -- which they say would have set the highest teaching standards in the nation -- and urged him or legislative leaders to call a special session so the veto can be overridden or a new law adopted.

They also questioned the authority of the governor and Cabinet to enforce rules of a law that goes out of existence. They predicted the action would be challenged in court. If declared invalid, it would leave Florida with no standards.

''If the governor is really interested in the education system of this state, why is he running the risk of no standards when the alternative would be the strictest standards in the nation?'' asked Jim Geiger, vice president of the Florida Education Association-United.

John Ryor, executive director of the Florida Teaching Profession-National Education Association, said Graham ''created a mess'' by his veto and should call a special session and correct his mistake. He also criticized Thursday's action. ''The Legislature, not the governor, has the authority to pass laws. It's totally irresponsible, especially with all his rhetoric about the importance of education,'' Ryor said.

A special session to address the certification issue is unlikely.

Graham will not call one. Instead, he appointed a task force Thursday to study the certification issue and make recommendations by February 1986.

While Senate President Harry Johnston, D-West Palm Beach, said he would consider a special session, House Speaker James Harold Thompson, D-Gretna, is clearly opposed. He said this week he opposes a special session and supports continuing the current certification rules.

If the governor refuses to call a special session, both Johnston and Thompson would have to agree to call one.

Under Thursday's action teachers seeking license renewals will be governed by the existing law, which requires six hours of continuing education. Under the bill passed unanimously by both legislative chambers, teachers would have been required to complete one of six options, including a subject-area test, and receive a satisfactory performance evaluation to renew their certificates. Graham objected to the bill because he believed the subject-area tests should be mandatory, not optional. He also opposed a requirement that called for the procedures for the performance evaluations to be developed at the county level through collective bargaining. He compares that arrangement to doctors being able to obtain their medical license through the hospitals for which they work.

The Professional Teacher Task Force appointed Thursday will have its first meeting Sept. 24. Headed by Don Shoemaker, editor emeritus of The Miami Herald, the task force includes legislators, teachers, students, lay people and education officials, including James Schott, superintendent of Orange County schools.